Automatic leveling device for tripods.



WHA/55555' i A.H.0LESBERG.

AUTOMATIC LEVELING DEVICE. FOR TRIPODS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7 i913.

1,135,91., Patented Apr.13,|1915.

annunci. n. emanano, or nawtr, armatura,V canapa.

sportauto enviarme nevica ron marrons.

Application led February 7, 1918. Serial No. 746,910.

"a citizen of Canada, :residing at Bawlf,

Province of Alberta, Uoinivnon of Canada, have invented new and useful Improve- -ments in Automatic Leveling Devices for Tripods, of which the following is a speci- 4 f cation.

This invention relates to a leveling device designed for use in conjunction with tripods, and includes an instrument supporting pracket in correlation with a revoluble bearingand weighted means for automatically operating said bearing.

The prime object of my invention is to provide, in conjunction with va tripod, automatic leveling means, thus allowing measuringinstruments to be normally. held in a correct horizontal plane.

Another object of this device is to pro,n vide an automatic adjusting contrivance, designed to be used in conjunction with an ordinary s urveyors instrument, so that the latter Lmay be automatically bron ht into a horizontal plane without the use o -other indicating devices. i

A further object of thelpresent device is to yprovide in conjunction with a tripod an automatic leveling device and an improved bearing for supporting the same, means bein rovided relative to said bearing for obtaining a rigid position of said leveling device when desired.

A still further object is to providean instrumentof `the foregoing type which it constructed of but 'a few simple parts where- `by it may be manufactured and placed upon the market at a minimum cost.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention relates to such details of cori- Struction and in the ari-alignments and combination of parts as will be hereinafter fully i described and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will hehad to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tripod showing my improved leveling device used in conjunction therewith; Fig. 2 -is a sectional view of the device, taken on the line 2li-42 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, illustrating parte in elevation; Fig. d is a detail view of a bearing employed for supporting the leveling device and consequently render ing the same ver y delicate in operation; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion 0f the tripod illustrating the method of securinthe sections thereof together. f

eferring now more articula'rly to the drawings', wherein is ilustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates the top portion of a trlpod, which is preferably circular in form,

as illustrated, and consisting of a pair of sections of relatively the same size. Means.

guide members 14, the lower extremities of the latter being held in spaced apart relation through the medium of binding elev ments 15 of obvious construction.

Standards 16 of suitable strength are employed, the upper portionA of which is slidably mounted between the guilding members 14, while their .lower extremities are 'provided with suitable feet portions 17, in o'rder to' prevent slipping when disposed upon the -gioundl When using a tripod of this construction upon rough and uneven ground, the operator thereof encounters coilsiderable difficulty in adjusting the instrument thereon to a correct horizontal plane. In numerous instances it has been found impossible to iidjust the measuring instrument under these conditions, and in view of the foregoing difficulties, I have provided the present device. This device is as set fortii before au toinatic in operation and designed to quickly actuate the measuring instrument to a correct horizontal plane in order that it may be immediately rendered operative.

The leveling contrivaiice consists'very essentially in the provision of a circular ballshaped supporting element 18, which is mov.- ably supported in a bearing provided in the top portion l() of the tripod. This bearing consists of seini-circular sections 19 provided at their inner edges with upper and lower curved fiange 19', which Hanges have their edge portions bent inwardly to form races 20. which'rcceive the balls 21. It will be noted that: the upper wall of the race is concave injiorxii and the lower Wall thereofl is conveXy-in foi-in. After the supporting ele.l

- mentlS is secured in placeA betwieen the sections-iol' -the`bearing, 1t will be recognized 5v thatthe same .is xnorably supported and al-v` lowed-` tofbe' actuatedas presently 4nien- .'tioned: 'The balllbearings`2l are designed Itol eliminate friction between thesuppkn'ting *element and bearing, consequentlylg.,allowing 10 the supporting element to beadju'st'ed more quickly than would ox'fdinarilybethecase.

lA' rod 22 depends from tlieinsi'de fof the 4supportingelement 15,;the upper extremity fof the lformer beingin"screw-threaded'relation therewith in order'to li'a'civlitate its re- 'moval and attachment. The-rod;22xcarriesl adjacent: its lowerl extremities a "weight 23,

of the construction illustrated; infFig, l, the

Weight being designed toact as anadjusting device by which -the measuring f- Instrument (not shown) may be adjusted. The weight `will, under all circumstances, tend to seek the center of gravity,`and of course actuate the supportingnyember 18 until it yhas reached the correct vertical position,

the supporting member 18, for connection with any Vdesired instrument, I not limiting myself to any specific instrument whatsoever. The bracket mentioned consists of a shank ,24 projecting upwardly from the supporting element Adiametrically opposite the rod 22, the-shank being bent at its upper ea-v tremity, as shown at 25 to forni a horizontal `S1=lp`porting ele1nent26. A fastening screw 27 issprovidedoupo'n the supportingeleinent in order to facilitate`-the attachment of the` instrlriinent thereto. l In the operation of my invention, the into strument to be employed is placed upon the .-"\supporting element 26 and secured in place through the medium of'the fasten ing screw 27,

'y The tripod s'then'set up in the usual man- 4curing; the same in a rigid position tion to; the component structure;

I liave provided a suitable bracket upon ner,-at any incline Whatever. 'lfhe'ivcight willoi course seek its center of gravity and consequently adjust the measuring instru` Vnient to acorr'ect horizontal plane and 'consequentlv, allow ,the latter to 4be correctly actuated in the usual manner.

i While the weight 23'sissulicient to movethe instrument to ahorizntal planeI have provided a 'setgscrew 28 in lc onJ'unctio'n with the .bearing `19"'or thevpurpse of engagement with the supportingeleinent .18 and-sein rela- .f The'advantages resultantl "from li'fsc of my; invention will be readily i colnprehendfed byy thoseconversant witlr-the crude'a'rdunsatisfactory'devi'ces heretofore provided in this art. i

Such lchanges as are' permissible bythe subjoinedyclaun may be resorted '.,to Without departing' from the spirit of niyimfention. y

{aving thus'fully describedmy inventioln,

upon its inner face,- said races receiving bearing balls, a bal1-shaped supportingelement carried by said vbearing,.a .flange pro- ]ectin upwardly from said element, a rod arranged diametrically `opposite said ;braclret,.said rod carrying a Weighthand a setA screw passing through one of said sec-l tlons and engaging said element' whereby s'adelenient may beheld in rigid relation to said tripod. A

.. p`ALBERT H. OLESBERG.

Witnesses :s

J. GORDON HILL.

E. S; GoURLna.

l7,5 i depen ing from said element,s aid rod being v 

